Malaysian Imam: "All Israeli civilians are soldiers"

Jerusalem Post ^ | Sep. 12, 2003 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[yonif]

The hard-line leader of Malaysia's opposition Islamic party fired up his supporters Friday for looming general elections by denouncing the United States as an enemy of Islam and voicing support for Palestinian suicide bombers.

Abdul Hadi Awang, president of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, called the United States and its allies "imperialist powers who are finding ways to be confrontational with Islam."

"The United States and its allies must stand trial before the conscience of the world for unilaterally destroying other nations, all under the rubric and pretext of war against terrorism," Abdul Hadi told about 2,000 supporters at the party's annual meeting.

But Abdul Hadi rejected claims by Malaysia's government that his party encourages extremism leading to terrorism, calling the claims "communist tactics" to inspire fear in voters.

Known for his fiery rhetoric, Abdul Hadi will lead the Islamic party - Malaysia's largest opposition group - into general elections expected to be called early next year.

The election will be the first time in 22 years that the government's campaign will not be led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is due to retire in coming weeks.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party controls two of Malaysia's 13 states and will be looking to take power in more. Success could spell an early exit for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the deputy whom Mahathir has anointed as his successor.

Clad in a turban and wearing a traditional Malay costume, Abdul Hadi claimed the United States invaded Iraq and Afghanistan because "they hate Islam and they are after the oil and to protect the Zionist Israeli state."

Abdul Hadi described Israel as the "biggest terrorist and criminal" and declared his party would continue to support Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Palestinian groups that have carried out suicide attacks against Israelis. A senior Hamas official, Mahmud Siyad, was present as a dignitary.

The crowd, segregated between men and women, cheered at these remarks, saying: "God is great!" They sipped on Iranian-made sodas, reflecting a boycott of Coca-Cola.

Later, Abdul Hadi told a news conference: "All Israeli civilians are soldiers and all of Israeli territory is a battlefield."

Abdul Hadi maintained he did not support terror attacks in Indonesia, blamed on the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, because it involved killing "innocent civilians, tourists and business people."

In the heavily Malay-populated states it governs, the party continually vows to impose laws punishing thieves with amputation and adulterers with stoning. The laws have been blocked by the federal government, which has ordered police not to enforce them.

[LetsRok]

Fine. Then all Palestinians within 20 miles of Israel are potential terrorists.

[joesnuffy]

Notice he shouts his invectives a safe distance away

[KC_Conspirator]

The imam should be whacked.

[zx2dragon]

ping

[Guillermo]

This is the prevailing view among Arab Muslims already.

[encm(ss)]

Then any terrorist in the "field of battle" is a legal target.

[goldstategop]

Its all the Jews' fault. Funny cause Jews have never lived in Malaysia. So what is it any concern of a Malaysian cleric what or what doesn't happen in Israel?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[Nachum]

This only reinforces my view that there is only one course of action for Israel. Total annexation of all territory and expelling of all known enemies.

[pepsionice]

It would seem like that these Muhaah's and Imam's...are becoming a problem. I think we need a quiet campaign...blamed on someone else of course...and basically start whacking these guys off at a rate of one per week. It might take two or three years...but we would eventually get the cream of the crop down to drips...and then we could manage the situation easily.

[cardinal4]

Islam sucks. Thos who practice and praise it are guilty of their brethrens crimes. Harsh? Probably. But its no different than declaring all Israeli citizens, kids included, soldiers. Thus mitigating their deaths.

Islam- The stuff that floats to the top after an unsucessful flush. (I have used that line to describe the Clintons as well, which should give you an idea how low I rate Islam)

[cardinal4]

Its all the Jews' fault. Funny cause Jews have never lived in Malaysia. So what is it any concern of a Malaysian cleric what or what doesn't happen in Israel?

Good question. And the answer is they are all 12th century barbarians.

[Darksheare]

OKay, fair enough.
Then by reason of reciprocity all Pali civilians are soldiers.
Even the newly born.
*snort*
What an idiot.

Can we stomp the terorists now, or do we still need Nanny Annon's permission?

[TopQuark]

Thos who practice and praise it are guilty of their brethrens crimes

Very true. If the imam's statement is an aberration, where are the cries of outrage? Just like the cries of outrage at Sep 11, they will never come. Any crime of a Muslim against any "infidel" is justified in the eyes of an average Muslim. As such, he is guilty of the crimes...

[tkathy]

Israel doesn't seem to grasp that they are in a fight for survival against world wide Islam.

[Jamten]

Because in Malaysia when the children grow up they are
taught to hate jews. I guess the same story as in Pakistan.
It is just pure hate. And then they blame America for being
racist. This world is truly upside down. The haters accuse others of hating and the civilised people (America) belives
they are racist when they are not. Amazing.
In Malaysia, jews are referred to Yahuddi and when you say or hear that word in Malaysia, pure hate comes up. Hitler would have been proud. Why dont the San Francisco Chronical write a story about that?

[Jamten]

I agree it is the question of the week. I really appreciate the thinking Freepers. At least some group of ppl in America use their brain. The truth is of course that moderate muslims all over the planet grow up hating the jews. Hitler Jugend gone wild and extreme. I mean compared to the muslims, Hitler was a saint.

[ASA Vet]

This only reinforces my view that there is only one course of action for Israel.

There's another "course of action." Securing their borders.

[Nachum]

You forget that their borders are secure for the most part. Israel is a heavily gated and guarded place. The frustration in Israel is that the same criminals are repeatedly released and permitted to attack again and again.

Only securing borders is not an answer.